Muwanga Kivumbi Dumped at Nateete Police Enroute Court After 19 Days Incommunicado as Lawyers Scramble to Trace Him

By Uganda Today

A new twist has emerged in the continued detention of former Butambala County Member of Parliament Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi after his lawyers revealed that the legislator was unexpectedly dumped at Nateete Police Station enroute Butambala Magistrates Court, following 19 days of alleged incommunicado detention.

The revelation was made on Wednesday by the Secretary General of the National Unity Platform, Davis Lewis Rubongoya, through a post on his X account, where he described the latest developments as the legal team pursued a habeas corpus application seeking the legislator’s immediate release.

Lawyers Didn’t Discover MP at Nateete Police

According to Rubongoya, the legal team had appeared before the High Court to follow up on Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi’s habeas corpus application when they received information that the former opposition legislator and vice president of NUP in charge of Buganda, had earlier been taken to Nateete Police Station enroute to Butambala Magistrates Court.

“While we were at the High Court to follow up his Habeas Corpus application, we were informed that Hon. Muwanga Kivumbi was dumped this morning at Nateete Police,” Rubongoya posted.

However, by the time the lawyers reached the police station, they were informed that the MP had already been transferred and was reportedly being taken to court in Butambala District.

Rubongoya further disclosed that the legal team didn’t find their client before he was moved to Butambala.

Nineteen Days Without Access

The development comes after what the opposition describes as 19 days during which Muwanga Kivumbi was held without communication with his family or legal representatives.

Human rights advocates have consistently argued that prolonged incommunicado detention raises serious concerns regarding constitutional guarantees, including the right to legal representation, due process and protection from arbitrary detention.

A habeas corpus application is a legal procedure through which a court compels authorities to produce a detained person and justify the legality of their detention.

Fresh Questions Over Due Process

The sudden appearance of the legislator at Nateete Police Station, only for him to be transferred before his lawyers could meet him, is likely to fuel fresh debate over the manner in which opposition politicians are handled by security agencies.

Legal observers note that once a habeas corpus application is before court, authorities are generally expected to account for the whereabouts of the detainee and facilitate compliance with judicial processes.

The circumstances surrounding Hon. Kivumbi’s transfer to Butambala Court, including the specific charges he may face, had not been officially communicated at the time of publication.

Opposition Demands Accountability

Rubongoya concluded his statement by renewing calls for justice and using the hashtag #FreeUgandaNow, which has increasingly been adopted by opposition supporters to highlight concerns over arrests, detentions and alleged violations of civil liberties.

Neither the Uganda Police Force nor other security agencies had issued an official statement explaining the circumstances of Muwanga Kivumbi’s detention, transfer or the legal basis for holding him incommunicado for nearly three weeks.

Uganda Today will continue following the matter and provide updates as more official information becomes available.